A Show Of Hands: Crossing The Threshold Of A Drunken Telegraph Video

This is a re-post from “The Wonderful World of Britton”

For this edition of Drunken Telegraph, we decided to use illustrations of 'hands'.

 

For this edition of Drunken Telegraph, we decided to use illustrations of ‘hands’. This defied our unspoken “no-figure” rule, but Megan relented. Concepts > Rules!

 

Every successful drawing begins with a "thumbnail sketch". This is where I work out the basic forms, values and composition. I ended up flipping the orientation.

Every successful drawing begins with a “thumbnail sketch“. This is where I work out the basic forms, values and composition. I ended up flipping the orientation.

This hand is in a pencil rough. I then trace over the image with ink refining it as I go. ink.

This hand is in a pencil rough. I then trace over the image with ink, refinement!

In looking back over my old hand drawings for this post, I realized that prior to 2003, my hands were hidden or clenched in a fist. This was the level of hand construction typical of the way I drew hands "pre-Whaletown".

In looking back over my old hand drawings for this post, I realized that prior to 2003, my hands were hidden or clenched in a fist. This was the level of hand construction typical of the way I drew hands “Pre-Whaletown”.

I began work on a still-as-yet-unfinished graphic novel called "Whaletown " in 2003. This forced me to face my inadequacies of my hand-drawings. I bought a book called "Hogarth's Dynamic Hands". http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Dynamic-Hands-Burne-Hogarth/dp/0823013677

I began work on a still-as-yet-unfinished graphic novel called “Whaletown” in 2003. This forced me to face my inadequacies of my hand-drawings. I bought a fantastic book, “Hogarth’s Dynamic Hands”.

I began to use a rough sketch to capture the gesture and energy.

I began to use a rough sketch to capture the gesture and energy.

I use the rough sketch to refine the forms...

I use the rough sketch to refine the forms…

Then I build the hand using simple shapes to construct the hand.

Then I build the hand using simple shapes to construct the hand.

This technique can be applied to any hand position. This was for a poster I was working on.

This technique can be applied to any hand position. This was for a poster I was working on.

Here is a hand I drew for a medical diagram we use in our Vascular surgery department.

Here is a hand I drew for a medical diagram we use in our Vascular surgery department.

http://brittonsukys.com/2014/06/28/earthling-1-chapter-1-8-2012/

This is a hand I was proud of. This is the ink work for a Earthling comic panel. I often use my own hands as models, because, well, they are always around!

http://brittonsukys.com/2014/06/28/earthling-1-chapter-1-8-2012/#jp-carousel-156

Here is the Earthling panel fully colored and illustrated.

Here's my sketchbook page of all my work-ups for the Drunken Telegraph teaser video.

Here’s my sketchbook page of all my work-ups for the Drunken Telegraph teaser video.

I found a neat monotone under color while scanning the drawings that really helped unify this set of images. I offset that color layer a bit, creating a print-like process.

I found a neat monotone under color while scanning the drawings that really helped unify this set of images. I offset that color layer a bit, creating a print-like process. Embrace those happy accidents!

I inked this series primarily with a brush. I like the moody contrasts that technique creates.

I inked this series primarily with a brush. I like the moody contrasts that technique creates.

I shave almost every day, so I figured I could draw this, but I still ended up using my wife's hand for the model!

I shave almost every day, so I figured I could draw this, but I still ended up using my wife’s hand for the model!

I couldn't get this pose right, so I let Megan show me. She grew up with a swimming pool in her back yard. But I used my memories of youth for the feeling and tone of the skinny-dipping!

I couldn’t get this pose right, so I let Megan show me. She grew up with a swimming pool in her back yard. But I used my memories of youth for the feeling and tone of the skinny-dipping!

This is a very rough thumbnail. Megan wanted the car in the background, so that also took some figuring-out.

This is a very rough thumbnail. Megan wanted the car in the background, so that also took some figuring-out.

The pencil rough for the purse image. I used my own hand awkwardly clutching a backpack for the model. Megan shopped for the right purse to copy.

The pencil rough for the purse image. I used my own hand awkwardly clutching a backpack for the model. Megan shopped for the right purse to copy.

My favorite drawing of the set. I love the lines on the car and the nearly op-art way the eyes want to make it 3-D. Pink and Green is a great combo, by the way.

My favorite drawing of the set. I love the lines on the car and the nearly op-art way the eyes want to make it 3-D. Pink and Green is a great combo, by the way.

For the background music, I recorded a bunch of lonesome guitar tracks, but Megan didn’t think any of them fit well, so she asked for something more “Spacey”. This is a track I recorded in 2011, I thought this tune had a “spaghetti-western spaced-out folk” sound, so I suggested it. She loved it. I guess it pays to keep that old experimental stuff sometimes! (Britton: Guitar and Harmonica).

 

Hear all of the amazing and powerful full-length “Crossing The Threshold” stories at Drunken Telegraph.